Pro-inflammatory macrophages play key regulatory role in the occurrence and development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we constructed a celastrol (Cel)-loaded polyamide-amine dendrimer (PAMAM) drug delivery system, which could target folate receptor and mitochondria. It could target inflammatory macrophages and realize chemo-photothermal synergistic therapy. Using PAMAM as the nano-carrier, folate receptor-targeting group folic acid (FA) and mitochondria-targeting group IR808 (also known as the photothermal agent) were conjugated with PAMAM through amide reaction, and then complexed with anti-inflammatory drug Cel to prepare the FA-PAMAM-IR808/Cel nanocomplex. In vitro characterization results showed that the drug loading efficiency of the nanocomplex was 50.90%, particle size was between 130 and 160 nm, average potential was between 1.0 and 3.5 mV, the drug release showed pH sensitivity, temperature reached to 42.5 ℃ after near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation for 10 min. In vitro cellular uptake experiments showed that the nanocomplex had obvious folate receptor-targeting and mitochondria-targeting ability. Following irradiation with NIR light, the cytotoxicity and cellular apoptosis enhanced. The secretion of pro-inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and nitric oxide (NO) decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. This study provided insights for the development of novel anti-RA nanomedicines.

Objective To investigate the function characteristics of CD4 T cell converted double negative T cell and provide a basis for further insight into the characteristics of mouse converted double negative T cell.Methods The gene expression profile was analyzed by transcriptome sequencing and protein mass spectrometry.The expression of cell active marker CD44,CD69 and OX40 was investigated by flow cytometry and the cytotoxicity of mouse double negative T cell was verified by CFSE staining.Results Mouse CD4 T cell converted double negative T cell expressed cell phenotype that differed from other mature CI4 T cells.Mouse converted double negative T cell expressed high level of active marker of CD44,CD69 and OX40.Cytotoxicity of PrfO DN T was significantly reduced.Conclusions Mouse CD4 T cell converted double negative T cell has distinguishing cell phenotypes,that are not identical to other mature CD4 T cells.Mouse double negative T cell overexpresses cell activation marker and cytotoxic cytokines.The immune suppressive function of mouse double negative T cell is mainly dependent on perforin pathway.

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of laparoscope-guided high ligation of the internal spermatic vein and open surgery in the treatment of varicocele.

METHODSWe collected the clinical data of 85 cases of varicocele treated by laparoscope-guided high ligation of the internal spermatic vein (the laparoscopic group) and another 47 that underwent open surgery (the open group) , and compared the results of treatment between the 2 groups.

RESULTSThe operations were successful in all the cases. In the laparoscopic group, the mean operation time was (32.0 +/- 5.9) minutes, with little bleeding, and the mean postoperative hospital stay was (3.0 +/- 1.6) days, with 3 cases (3.5%) of recurrence during the 3-12 months follow-up. In the open group, the mean operation time was (46.0 +/-7.2) minutes and the mean postoperative hospital stay was (7.0 +/- 3.7) days, with 5 cases (10.6%) of recurrence during the same length of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONLaparoscopic method for the treatment of varicocele is obviously superior to open surgery for its advantages of minimal invasiveness, fast recovery, sure effectiveness, few complications and low recurrence, particularly for those with bilateral varicocele who experienced recurrence after open surgery.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Ligation ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Varicocele ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the application of computer assisted surgical navigation in condylectomy via intraoral approach and its clinical results.

METHODSEight patients aged from 16 to 56 were treated by condylectomy via intraoral approach under computer assisted surgical navigation. There were 6 female and 2 male. The lesions were condyle osteoma in 3 patients, hemimandibular hyperplasia and condylar hyperplasia in 5 patients. Most patients had concomitant LeFortIosteotomy (6 cases), bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (BSSRO) (5 cases),contralateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) (1 cases), genioplasty (4 cases) and mandible contouring (6 cases) to recover the facial symmetry.

RESULTSAll patients had good occlusion, oral function and facial symmetry after the operation. The average mouth opening was 38 mm before operation, and 41 mm one month after operation. The temporomandibular joint(TMJ) dysfunction syndrome alleviated or disappeared. The follow-up period was 3-12 months, and results were stable.

CONCLUSIONSComputer assisted surgical navigation can precisely accomplish the condylectomy via intraoral approach.It causes less trauma to the patient than traditional condylectomy, and can better preserve the TMJ structure and function.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Facial Asymmetry ; etiology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genioplasty ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Male ; Mandibular Condyle ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Mandibular Neoplasms ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Osteoma ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Osteotomy, Le Fort ; methods ; Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus ; methods ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders ; etiology ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the value of CT guided ozone(O_3)injection in the ablation treatment of cervical spondylosis.Methods All 86 patients with cervical spondylosis including 37 myelopathy type,30 radiculopathy type,and 16 sympathetic type were treated with O_3 injection under CT guidance.The puncture rout was from the anteroparaline of neck to the disk.A total of (4?3)ml of O_3 with concentration 60?g/ml was injected into the disk and 10 ml of O_3 with concentration 40?g/ml was injected to the paraspinal tissue.Results After injection CT scan showed that O_3 was distributed within the disk and the protruding part as low-density air shadow in 37 myelopathy type and 30 radieulopathy type patients.O_3 was observed to spread in the anterior epidural space of spinal canal and the paraspinal tissue.Three months after 03 injection,67 patients (78% )showed excellent clinical efficacy,14 (16% )had good clinical efficacy,and 5 (6%)were poor respectively.Conclusion CT guided O_3 injection is an accurate,safe, and effective method in the treatment of cervical spondylosis.

Objective: To observe the effects of acupoints, cone numbers and durations of moxibustion with different moxibustion methods on skin surface and inside temperature, and to provide references for the clinical standardization of moxibustion amount. Methods: The 42 big-ear white rabbits were divided into 6 groups according to the random number table method, a 1-cone direct moxibustion group, a 2-cone direct moxibustion group, a 3-cone direct moxibustion group, a 1-cone herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group, a 2-cone herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group, and a 3-cone herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group, with 7 rabbits in each group. Shenque (CV 8), Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36) were used in each group, but the moxibustion methods, cone numbers and durations of moxibustion were different. Rabbits in each group received moxibustion once every other day for 5 times in total. During the intervention, a thermoelectricity coupled probe and a temperature recorder were used to record the real-time acupoint skin temperature and the temperature at different time points, so as to observe, analyze and process the real-time changes in the temperature difference between the surface and inside of acupoint skin. Results: For herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion, the best temperature for cone changing was (46.38±0.51) ℃ when the highest surface temperature was (49.20±0.52) ℃; the multi-factor comparison of acupoint × cone number × time and acupoint × moxibustion method × time showed that time × acupoint, time × moxibustion method and cone number × acupoint had interactive effects (all P<0.05). Comparing skin temperature differences between different cone numbers at the same acupoint, Shenque (CV 8) on the 1st and the 5th days, Shenshu (BL 23) on the 3rd and the 7th days, Zusanli (ST 36) on the 1st and the 9th days of experiment showed statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). The skin temperature comparison of different moxibustion methods at the same acupoint all had statistical differences (all P<0.05), except for Shenque (CV 8) before moxibustion, Shenshu (BL 23) before moxibustion and on the 5th day; Zusanli (ST 36) only showed statistical differences on the 5th and 7th days (both P<0.05). The skin temperature differences of different acupoints after moxibustion in the 1-cone, 2-cone and 3-cone groups were statistically different (all P<0.05); direct moxibustion and herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion at different acupoints were all statistically different (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Cone changing temperature under the same specifications of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion was confirmed. Temperature difference between surface and inside of different acupoint skin at the same maximum temperature was significantly different due to the cone numbers and moxibustion methods, which showed the highest at Shenshu (BL 23), the second at Shenque (CV 8), and the lowest at Zusanli (ST 36). The influence of acupoint factor should be considered to determine the quantitative indicators of moxibustion.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate neointimal proliferation following placement of a new drug-eluting stent (BUMA) by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

METHODSTwenty-two patients with coronary artery disease were randomized into BUMA group (n=15) and Endeavor group (n=7) and underwent OCT imaging after 9 months of stent implantation.

RESULTSThe neointima hyperplasia (NIH) thickness in BUMA group were significantly smaller than that in endeavor group (0.220-/+0.140 mm vs 0.269-/+0.207 mm, P<0.001), and the uncovered Struts were significantly lower in BUMA group than in Endeavor group (5.65% vs 6.56%, P<0.0001). The luminal late loss in BUMA group was also significantly lower (34.87-/+11.50 vs 40.82-/+18.53, P=0.025).

CONCLUSIONBUMA stent is safe and effective for treatment of coronary artery disease.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; Cell Proliferation ; Coronary Artery Disease ; pathology ; therapy ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Tunica Intima ; pathology

Objective To explore the influence of drug dosage, solvent and other main influencing factors on the successful establishment of alloxan-induced hyperglycemia mouse model and the effect on the stability of this model. Methods 160 6-8-week-old Kunming mice ofSPF grade, (male:female=1:1) were used in this study.The influences of different dosages of alloxan and solvent combinations on the successful establishment rate of the model, survival rate, body weight, fasting blood glucose, blood glucose area under curve, serum insulin level and their stabilities were dynamically observed for six weeks.Results By single intraperitoneal injection of 160 mg/kg bw alloxan ( pH 4.5 citrate sodium as solvent) , we were able to obtain a stable experimental hyperglycemic mouse model with higher levels of successful establishment rate (70%), survival rate (75%), fasting blood glucose (15-20 mmol/L), glucose area under the curve (55-65 mmol/L) and a lower but not loss of serum insulin levels (21 mIU/L).Conclusions In the present study we have carefully considered the influence of main factors such as drug dosages, solvent, etc., on the alloxan-induced experimental hyperglycemic mouse model, and successfully established this model after 6-week period observation of its stability.This model may provide a useful tool in the research of experimental diabetes and hypoglycemic functional studies.

BACKGROUNDNo-reflow after emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is related to the severe prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Tongxinluo, a traditional Chinese medicine, on no-reflow and the infarction area after emergency PCI for STEMI.

METHODSA total of 219 patients (female 31, 14%) undergoing emergency PCI for STEMI from nine clinical centers were consecutively enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial from January 2007 to May 2009. All patients were randomly divided into Tongxinluo group (n = 108) and control group (n = 111), given Tongxinluo or placebo in loading dose 2.08 g respectively before emergency PCI with aspirin 300 mg and clopidogrel 300 mg together, then 1.04 g three times daily for six months after PCI. The ST segment elevation was recorded by electrocardiogram at hospitalization and 1, 2, 6, 12, 24 hours after coronary balloon dilation to evaluate the myocardial no-flow; myocardial perfusion scores of 17 segments were evaluated on day 7 and day 180 after STEMI with static single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to determine the infarct area.

RESULTSThere was no statistical significance in sex, age, past history, chest pain, onset-to-reperfusion time, Killip classification, TIMI flow grade just before and after PCI, either in the medication treatment during the follow up such as statin, β-blocker, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) between two groups. There was significant ST segment restoration in Tongxinluo group compared to the control group at 6 hours ((-0.22 ± 0.18) mV vs. (-0.18 ± 0.16) mV, P = 0.0394), 12 hours ((-0.24 ± 0.18) mV vs. (-0.18 ± 0.15) mV, P = 0.0158) and 24 hours ((-0.27 ± 0.16) mV vs. (-0.20 ± 0.16) mV, P = 0.0021) reperfusion; and the incidence of myocardial no-reflow was also reduced significantly at 24-hour reperfusion (34.3% vs. 54.1%, P = 0.0031). The myocardial perfusion scores of 17 segments evaluated by static SPECT was improved significantly on day 7 and day 180 after STEMI in Tongxinluo group compared to the control group (0.61 ± 0.40 vs. 0.76 ± 0.42, P = 0.0109 and 0.51 ± 0.42 vs. 0.66 ± 0.43, P = 0.0115, respectively). There was no significant difference in severe adverse events between two groups.

CONCLUSIONTongxinluo as a kind of traditional Chinese medicine could reduce myocardial no-reflow and infarction area significantly after emergency PCI for STEMI with conventional medicine therapy.

Acute Disease ; Aged ; Coronary Circulation ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Visci Herba， a commonly used Chinese medicinal， was often mistaken as Taxilli Herba in ancient Chinese materia medica. The two Chinese medicinals have often been confused even in present clinical practice， and their origins are difficult to be identified. Hence， it is necessary to carry out systematic and in-depth textual research. This paper explored the origin， producing area， quality evaluation， harvesting and processing， property， flavor， and efficacy of Visci Herba based on ancient Chinese materia medica of the past dynasties and modern plant morphology， so as to provide evidence for the development and utilization of Visci Herba. The findings demonstrated that Visci Herba was mostly recorded as Taxilli Herba until the name of Visci Herba appeared in the Tang Dynasty. The records of the two Chinese medicinals could be traced back to the Song Dynasty. Visci Herba and Taxilli Herba were officially listed as two different Chinese medicinals in the 1977 edition Chinese Pharmacopoeia for the first time， where the origin of Visci Herba was determined to be Viscum coloratum（Komar.）Nakai. According to the ancient Chinese materia medica， V. coloratum was mainly distributed in Lingbao， Henan province and Xuzhou， Jiangsu province and now it mostly grows in Northeast China and North China. In ancient times， Visci Herba with deep yellow cross-section and sticky fruit juice on the tree was preferred， which was often harvested on 3， March in spring， dried in the shade， grinded together with the roots， branches， stems， and leaves using the copper file， and preserved away from fire. By contrast， it is now usually harvested from winter to the next spring and then cut into sections for drying after the removal of thick stems， or dried after being steamed. As described in ancient Chinese materia medica， Visci Herba， bitter and sweet in flavor， neutral in property， possessed the effects of dispelling rheumatism， tonifying kidney， strengthening sinews and bones， benefiting blood vessels， and preventing abortion， basically consistent with its modern functions of dispelling rheumatism， tonifying liver and kidney， strengthening sinews and bones， and preventing abortion.